Adjacent Words

Finger definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FIN'GER, n. fing'ger.
1. One of the extreme parts of the hand, a small member shooting to a point. The fingers have joints which peculiarly fit them to be the instruments of catching, seizing and holding. When we speak of the fingers generally, we include the thumb; as the five fingers. But we often make a distinction. The fingers and thumb consist of fifteen bones; three to each. The word is applied to some other animals as well as to man.
2. A certain measure. We say a finger's breadth, or the breadth of the four fingers, or of three fingers.
3. The hand.
Who teacheth my fingers to fight. Psalms 146.
4. The finger or fingers of God, in scripture, signify his power, strength or operation.
The magicians said to Pharaoh, this is the finger of God.
Exodus 8.
5. In music, ability; skill in playing on a keyed instrument. She has a good finger.
FIN'GER, v.t.
1. To handle with the fingers; to touch lightly; to toy. The covetous man delights to finger money.
2. To touch or take thievishly; to pilfer.
3. To touch an instrument of music; to play on an instrument.
4. To perform work with the fingers; to execute delicate work.
5. To handle without violence.
FIN'GER, v.i. To dispose the fingers aptly in playing on an instrument.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb); "her fingers were long and thin"
2: the length of breadth of a finger used as a linear measure [syn: finger, fingerbreadth, finger's breadth, digit]
3: one of the parts of a glove that provides covering for a finger or thumb v
1: feel or handle with the fingers; "finger the binding of the book" [syn: finger, thumb]
2: examine by touch; "Feel this soft cloth!"; "The customer fingered the sweater" [syn: feel, finger]
3: search for on the computer; "I fingered my boss and found that he is not logged on in the afternoons"
4: indicate the fingering for the playing of musical scores for keyboard instruments

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fingar finger Date: before 12th century 1. any of the five terminating members of the hand ; a digit of the forelimb; especially one other than the thumb 2. a. something that resembles a finger <a narrow finger of land> b. a part of a glove into which a finger is inserted c. a projecting piece (as a pawl for a ratchet) brought into contact with an object to affect its motion 3. the breadth of a finger 4. interest, share — often used in the phrase have a finger in the pie 5. bird 10 — usually used with the • fingerlike adjective II. verb (fingered; fingering) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to touch or feel with the fingers 2. a. to play (a musical instrument) with the fingers b. to play (as notes or chords) with a specific fingering c. to mark the notes of (a music score) as a guide in playing 3. to point out ; identify 4. to extend into or penetrate in the shape of a finger intransitive verb 1. to touch or handle something 2. a. to use the fingers in playing a musical instrument b. to have a certain fingering — used of a musical instrument 3. to extend in the shape or manner of a finger

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 any of the terminal projections of the hand (including or excluding the thumb). 2 the part of a glove etc. intended to cover a finger. 3 a a finger-like object (fish finger). b a long narrow structure. 4 colloq. a measure of liquor in a glass, based on the breadth of a finger. 5 sl. a an informer. b a pickpocket. c a policeman. --v.tr. 1 touch, feel, or turn about with the fingers. 2 Mus. a play (a passage) with fingers used in a particular way. b mark (music) with signs showing which fingers are to be used. c play upon (an instrument) with the fingers. 3 US sl. indicate (a victim, or a criminal to the police). Phrases and idioms: all fingers and thumbs clumsy. finger alphabet a form of sign language using the fingers. finger-board a flat strip at the top end of a stringed instrument, against which the strings are pressed to determine tones. finger-bowl (or -glass) a small bowl for rinsing the fingers during a meal. finger language language expressed by means of the finger alphabet. finger-mark a mark left on a surface by a finger. finger-paint n. paint that can be applied with the fingers. --v.intr. apply paint with the fingers. finger-plate a plate fixed to a door above the handle to prevent finger-marks. finger-post a signpost at a road junction. one's fingers itch (often foll. by to + infin.) one is longing or impatient. finger-stall a cover to protect a finger, esp. when injured. get (or pull) one's finger out sl. cease prevaricating and start to act. have a finger in the pie be (esp. officiously) concerned in the matter. lay a finger on touch however slightly. put one's finger on locate or identify exactly. put the finger on sl. 1 inform against. 2 identify (an intended victim). twist (or wind) round one's finger (or little finger) persuade (a person) without difficulty, dominate (a person) completely. work one's fingers to the bone see BONE. Derivatives: fingered adj. (also in comb.). fingerless adj. Etymology: OE f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Finger Fin"ger, n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.] 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb. 2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. 3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins. 4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] She has a good finger. --Busby. Ear finger, the little finger. Finger alphabet. See Dactylology. Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. Finger bowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove. Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab. Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut. Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger. Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind. Finger shell (Zo["o]l.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. Finger sponge (Zo["o]l.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. To burn one's fingers. See under Burn. To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Finger Fin"ger, n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.] 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb. 2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. 3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins. 4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] She has a good finger. --Busby. Ear finger, the little finger. Finger alphabet. See Dactylology. Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. Finger bowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove. Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab. Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut. Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger. Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind. Finger shell (Zo["o]l.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. Finger sponge (Zo["o]l.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. To burn one's fingers. See under Burn. To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Finger Fin"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering.] 1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me. --Shak. 2. To touch lightly; to toy with. 3. (Mus.) (a) To perform on an instrument of music. (b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing. 4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. --Shak. 5. To execute, as any delicate work.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Finger Fin"ger, v. i. (Mus.) To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. --Busby.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(fingers, fingering, fingered) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Your fingers are the four long thin parts at the end of each hand. She suddenly held up a small, bony finger and pointed across the room... She ran her fingers through her hair... There was a ring on each of his fingers. N-COUNT see also light-fingered 2. The fingers of a glove are the parts that a person's fingers fit into. N-COUNT: usu pl 3. A finger of something such as smoke or land is an amount of it that is shaped rather like a finger. ...a thin finger of land that separates Pakistan from the former Soviet Union... Cover the base with a single layer of sponge fingers. = strip N-COUNT: N of n, n N see also fish finger 4. If you finger something, you touch or feel it with your fingers. He fingered the few coins in his pocket... Self-consciously she fingered the emeralds at her throat. VERB: V n, V n 5. If you get your fingers burned or burn your fingers, you suffer because something you did or were involved in was a failure or a mistake. He has had his fingers burnt by deals that turned out badly... Mr Walesa burned his fingers by promising he would give every Pole 100m zlotys to start a business. PHRASE: V inflects 6. If you cross your fingers, you put one finger on top of another and hope for good luck. If you say that someone is keeping their fingers crossed, you mean they are hoping for good luck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they turn up soon. PHRASE: V inflects 7. If you say that someone did not lay a finger on a particular person or thing, you are emphasizing that they did not touch or harm them at all. I must make it clear I never laid a finger on her. PHRASE: V inflects, usu with brd-neg, PHR n [emphasis] 8. If you say that a person does not lift a finger or raise a finger to do something, especially to help someone, you are critical of them because they do nothing. She never lifted a finger around the house... They will not lift a finger to help their country. PHRASE: V inflects, with brd-neg [disapproval] 9. If you point the finger at someone or point an accusing finger at someone, you blame them or accuse them of doing wrong. He said he wasn't pointing an accusing finger at anyone in the government or the army. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 10. If you tell someone to pull their finger out or to get their finger out, you are telling them rudely that you want them to start doing some work or making an effort. (BRIT INFORMAL) Isn't it about time that you pulled your finger out? PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval] 11. If you put your finger on something, for example a reason or problem, you see and identify exactly what it is. He could never quite put his finger on who or what was responsible for all this. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/wh 12. If someone or something slips through your fingers, you just fail to catch them, get them, or keep them. Money has slipped through his fingers all his life... You mustn't allow a golden opportunity to slip through your fingers or you will regret it later. PHRASE: V inflects 13. to have green fingers: see green finger on the pulse: see pulse

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Handle, touch. 2. Play on (an instrument). II. v. n. Use the fingers (in playing on an instrument).

Moby Thesaurus

accuse, acquire, advert to, allege, allude to, annulary, appoint, arraign, article, be master of, be taken as, bear witness, betray, book, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, bring to mind, buy, call to mind, charge, cite, claws, clutches, come by, come in contact, complain, condemn to death, dactylion, denominate, denote, denounce, denunciate, designate, determinate, diagnose, digit, digits, disappear, discover, distinguish, do something, dominate, elude, emblematize, escape, fangs, fasten on, fasten upon, feel, feel of, figure, figure in, find, fingernails, fingers, flick, forefinger, get away, get cracking, get hold of, handle, hands, hang something on, have under control, hit, hooks, identify, impeach, imply, impute, index, index finger, indicate, indict, influence, inform against, inform on, insinuate, jaws, lay charges, little finger, locate, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, lord it over, make, make a move, make an attempt, make an effort, mandibles, manipulate, maxillae, meathooks, medius, middle finger, minimus, mitts, monkey with, nails, name, nippers, nominate, offer, palm, palpate, paw, pick out, pin down, pin on, pincers, pinkie, pinpoint, place, ply, point at, point out, point to, poke at, pollex, pounces, prefer charges, press charges, prod, punch, purchase, put on report, recall, recognize, recollect, refer to, remember, report, reproach, ring finger, select, snitch on, specify, spot, stand for, stigmatize, strike, symbol, symbolize, take to task, talons, tap, task, tattle on, taunt with, tax, teeth, tell on, think of, thumb, touch, track down, twiddle, twit, typify, unearth, unguals, ungulae, vanish, wield, zero in on